Therese Tonna: School Assistants Co-ordinator

To help the AEU at the bargaining table, our union recruited Therese Tonna in June 2013 as our School Assistants Co-ordinator. Therese has been recruiting and mobilising school assistant members and the results are showing.

About Therese

Therese began her career as a School Assistant when her boys were at school and has spent the majority of her time in the classroom.

She started as a casual school assistant at Duffy Primary school where she also worked as the library assistant and spent some time in the front office. On Saturdays she also worked as a Support Worker for a Social and Friendship Group for children with autism.

She then gained a contract at Village Creek Primary School working in the Junior Learning Support Class and when this school closed she was part of the move to Wanniassa Hills Primary School. She became permanent in this position in 2007. In January 2011, she moved on to Namadgi School and worked in various areas before settling in the Learning Support Unit.

In 2012, Therese became the Executive Assistant to the Principals and often acted in the Business Manager’s role until recently joining the AEU Office.

Therese's journey as a school assistant has placed her in an excellent position to co-ordinate AEU school assistant members. If you would like her to visit your school or you have any questions or ideas that should be considered for School Assistants, please do not hesitate to contact her at Therese.Tonna@aeuact.org.au or on 62727900.

It's exciting to have Therese on board and to see school assistant activism leading to real improvements in our working conditions.